Senate debate: 'Lowell was the center of the universe tonight'

LOWELL -- The streets leading to the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell were lined Monday with hundreds of sign-carrying and vocal supporters of both Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown and Democratic challenger Elizabeth Warren hours before their debate began at 7 p.m.

Satellite trucks for national, statewide and local news organizations were parked close by, as reporters from across the nation, including a contingent of NBC News staffers and a New York Times reporter, were in Lowell to cover the Senate face-off.

David Gregory of NBC's Meet the Press was on stage to moderate the debate, which was broadcast live across the country on C-SPAN.

And many of the top politicians in Massachusetts, including much of the state's U.S. House delegation, such as Rep. Barney Frank, and some seeking to join them, including Democrat Joe Kennedy III, filed into the energized crowd of 5,700 to watch the anticipated match-up.

As U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, a Lowell Democrat, put it late Monday: "Lowell was the center of the universe tonight."

Local political figures could be seen among the hundreds outside, with Lowell City Councilors Marty Lorrey and Vesna Nuon rallying the troops for Warren.

The energy of the pre-debate crowd, which alternated between chants for the candidates they were supporting, was also present inside during the debate. When Gregory asked the audience just prior to 7 p.m., to cheer if they supported Brown, then Warren, loud applause erupted in the packed arena, with the support more vocal for Warren.

When Brown told Warren, a Harvard professor, to let him finish a statement because he is not a student in her classroom, the arena filled mainly with applause, but also a few boos and jeers.

The crowd lustily booed when Brown said he does not support the DREAM Act, which would provide a path to legal status for undocumented youths, and jeered when he first named conservative Antonin Scalia as a model Supreme Court justice.

Warren drew cheers when she said she is trying to become the first female to get elected as a senator in the Bay State.

"You could really feel the lively atmosphere everywhere," said Shaela Kilmartin, a sophomore at Lowell High School.

State Auditor Suzanne Bump also traveled to the Mill City to take in the action, as did about 30 state representatives and about a dozen state senators.

"I saw a lot of Democrats here tonight to support Elizabeth, and she has got the full backing of the party," said Bump, adding that she could not recall seeing many Republicans present. "Lowell was the center of attention tonight."

In addition to Brown, Republicans, which are still a rare breed in Massachusetts' politics, were more challenging to spot.

But Tsongas' opponent, Carlisle Republican Jon Golnik, was present Monday for what he said was a "date night" with his wife and to lend support to Brown, who he hopes brings out GOP voters for other races.

As for Tsongas, she said she was leaving the arena beaming with Mill City pride.

"My husband would be very proud to see this great debate take place in this arena built right here in Lowell with so many people in attendance," she said, referring to former U.S. Sen. and Lowell native Paul Tsongas.

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